New Delhi: After facing widespread criticism from several quarters, including from the heads of IIMs, the human resources development ministry is considering scrapping of some contentious clauses of the proposed Bill that may infringe on their autonomy and give sweeping powers to the government in policy matters governing these prestigious management schools.
A consultation process is on within the ministry to explore dropping these clauses, but a final view will be taken only after discussing it with minister Smriti Irani, sources said.
It is learnt that a meeting with IIMs heads is also likely to be held soon to sort out these issues. Sources said that the ministry may delete subsection (1) of Section 36 of the draft bill which states that the IIM “board may, with the approval of the Central government, by notification, make regulations not inconsistent with this act and rules made thereunder to carry out the provisions of this act”.
The IIMs also want Section 35 removed as it was not discussed with them. This empowers the Centre, among other things, to “make rules for carrying out the provisions of this (IIM) Act”.
Several IIMs, led by IIM Ahmedabad, had criticised the government over the draft bill, saying this would not only curtail their autonomy but reduce the IIMs to a mere “operating centre”, while arming the government with sweeping powers. “We are deeply concerned that some provisions of the bill would seriously compromise the autonomy of the institute,” IIM-Ah-medabad chairperson A.M. Naik said.
